SMaSH beers are also a great way to test different yeast because of their simple flavor. This approach also allows you to experiment with how the beer changes based on altering the time and amount of hop additions during the boil rather than replacing the hop varietal in a recipe.īrewing a SMaSH is also the ideal way to test new hop varietals before adding them to more complex recipes in which their flavors may be obscured. You may find that a specific malt gives you a better body or flavor, and that some hops work well for flavor or aroma, but may not work well for bittering. When you remove all of the other flavors in a beer, you can really understand and appreciate the flavors of each ingredient that remain. SMaSH brewing is also a great way to really learn about the ingredients in your beer. Isolating Ingredients Helps you Understand and Appreciate Them On a similar note, SMaSH beers tend to be VERY inexpensive to brew (I can make a five-gallon batch of my Fresh Cascade SMaSH for about $15), so it’s not QUITE as heartbreaking if it doesn’t turn out great on your first try. They are great for building confidence for new all-grain brewers, and are a perfect way to practice the process before brewing more complicated beers. If you’re new to homebrewing or are just switching to all-grain brewing, you can’t do better than a SMaSH for an easy and simple brew day. There are several benefits to brewing a SMaSH for both novice and seasoned homebrewers. My favorite hop for a SMaSH Pale Ale is Cascade, and my Fresh Cascade SMaSH recipe is below!īenefits of SMaSH Brewing It’s Easy, Cheap, and Great for Beginners While low bitterness hops can be used, you’ll need to add more for bittering than you would for a better bittering hop, which can impart off flavors in your beer. Similarly, while any hop could be use for a SMaSH, medium alpha hops tend to work best because they work well for bittering, flavor, and aroma. You can brew a SMaSH with any grain and any hop that you would like, but in general using a base malt like 2-Row Pale or Marris Otter will produce a clear, crisp beer with a pleasant body and mouthfeel. It is a beer brewed from one base malt and one hop varietal. SMaSH stands for Single Malt and Single Hop, and it is exactly that. So as you progress into creating your own homebrew recipes, I recommend getting back to basics first and brewing one of my favorite things: a SMaSH. That said, sometimes too many ingredients complicate the brewing process and create a beer with too many competing flavors. ![]() Experimentation is one of the greatest joys of homebrewing, and homebrewers are often the first to try things that later become mainstream. Every time someone asks me, “Do you think would be good in a beer?” my answer is always, “throw it in and see what happens!”. I am by no means a purist when it comes to beer ingredients.
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